Wine tasting 2011 at Restaurant Ikarus

Vinum Vertico 2011

What started last year in Hangar-7 with the cult wine estates “CHÂTEAU Lynch-Bages” and “Domaine Coche- Dury” is now being continued in the Festival month of August 2011 with two more spectacular wine events.

The first tasting presents the wines of Slovenia and Croatia, which are fairly unknown in our part of the world, and the second event, featuring the Burgundy domaine “Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey” and the Bordeaux highlight “Château Figeac”, focuses on two wellestablished mega-stars of the international wine scene.

Although these two events may sound different, they have a common denominator, explains Service Manager Ondrej Kovar, who is organizing and running both evenings: “The regions only seem to be at different ends of the spectrum at first glance. But those who look at them a little more carefully will realize that both Slovenia and Croatia, on the one hand, and Burgundy and Bordeaux, on the other, are extremely historic wine regions where the top vintners at least are committed to producing wines of great density and depth.” The conception of the “French” evening is very exciting. On the one side, we have vintner‘s son Pierre-Yves Colin, who has only been producing his own wines since 2006 and has been committed since then to unconditional top quality. And on the other, there is the Bordeaux classic, “Château Figeac”, one of the estates with the greatest traditions in St. Émilion.

The phalanx of carefully chosen vintners from Slovenia and Croatia seem to have far more similarities – even if it is only their eagerness to secure a place for Slovenia and Croatia once more in the ranks of the great European wine growing areas. The qualities produced here will surprise and captivate all wine lovers.

The fact that there is so much to discover here – including grape varieties that sound strange to us, such as Malvazija, Musˇkat bijeli, Savignonasse, or the local red wine star, Teran – is one of the great attractions of the event. Service Manager Ondrej Kovar: “Both tastings have their own appeal. On the one evening, we can show that great names are backed up by fantastic wines. On the other evening, we will be looking at some fantastic wines, which will without doubt soon be amongst the new great names.”

Between tradition and modernity

When the conventions in Ikarus restaurant are turned on their head and Roland Trettl, with the help of his team, adapts the menu to suit the wine – rather than vice versa – then wine connoisseurs know: It's time for Vinum Vertico. This year, it is once again my pleasure to invite you along to two very special wine tasting events!

Ondrej Kovar, Service Manager, Hangar-7

Come along ...

...to Restaurant Ikarus on 9 August 2011

at 7 p.m. and experience two wineproducing countries that have revived and enriched the European wine scene in recent years: Slovenia and Croatia. You can look forward to sampling the produce of two of the best winemakers from each country.

Join us on 23 August 2011

at 7 p.m. for a wine-tasting session with two lengendary french winemakers: Burgund-Domaine Pierre-Yves Colin Morey and Château Figeac. This is a unique opportunity, since the owners of both wineries will be accompanying their gems to Salzburg.

register at:
ondrej.kovar@hangar-7.com

Slovenia - Branko & Vasja Čotar Winery, Karst

Branko and Vasja Čotar are men that don't think in terms of months. Their products are distinguished by their long-term storage potential. When a wine is deemed to be ready by father and son Čotar, this decision is influenced by their palate and not their nose for business.

This means that several older vintages may appear on the market at the same time. Red wines form the core of the family product palette.

Slovenia - Marjan Simčič Winery, Goriška Brda

Curiosity and openness are the defining characteristics of Marjan Simčič. What this well-travelled winemaker doesn't know about wine cellars or processing techniques probably isn't worth knowing. For Simčič, winemaking isn't just about tradition, it's about infusing a wine with expression and personality, and allowing its mineral balance to demonstrate its true Slovenian roots and let its origins shine through.

Croatia - Clai Bijele Zemlje Winery, G. Clai, Istria

After 30 years in the restaurant industry, Giorgio Clai decided to follow his calling and dedicate himself to viticulture. His philosophy is to let the process of wine-growing take its natural course as far as possible. Wherever possible, he dispenses with technological intervention or the introduction of chemicals. The wine demonstrates a discernible similarity with its maker – both are distinguished by their unique character.

Croatia - Moreno Coronica Winery, Istria

Moreno Coronica is a third-generation winegrower and proudly continues his family tradition. He has a unique appreciation of how to combine modern technology with traditional methods. His Gran Malvasier, which is stored in barriques, is regarded as a top-grade product among Istrian white wines. Moreno Coronica also has great plans for his red wines, and his Gran Teran Barrique is one of the region's most interesting reds.

France - Château Figeac, St.-Émilion, Bordeaux

Eric D´Aramon

If we were to create a list of the most important wineries in the world, Château Figeac would be one of the first names to be added. The fact that its outstanding red wines differ so much from their counterparts is not just down to the unique gravelly soil, but also to the unusual blend of grape varieties used: In addition to Merlot, which is planted throughout most of the region, the winery places emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

France - Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Burgundy

Pierre-Yves Colin

No more compromises. This is the principle that the winegrower's son Pierre-Yves Colin applies to the vineyard treatment and vinification process of the five-hectare domaine that he inherited from his father Marc Colin in 2005. His first vintage 2006 caused a furore, making Pierre-Yves Colin an instant household name among lovers of exceptional white Burgundies.

Further Information

VINUM VERTICO 2011 - Slowenia & Croatia

The new world of the winES ...

…is no longer overseas, but can be found in our European neighbours Croatia and Slovenia. What is especially striking about this is the performance of local top wine growers, which has hit the highest levels in the last years. The sun-drenched climate, combined with good quality soils, gives the wines their distinctive characteristics which are expressed in unusual sounding grape varieties like Malvasia or Terrano.

We are pleased to introduce you to four of the best wine growers from Croatia and Slovenia on 9 August 2011 at 7:00 pm in our Ikarus restaurant. Our chef Roland Trettl has put together a six-course menu to provide a suitable accompaniment to the wines.

Vinum Vertico 2011, August 9, 2011: the “New Old Wine World” of Slovenia and Croatia. Wines from the “Branko & Vasja Čotar”, “Marjan Simčič”, “Coronica Moreno” and “Giorgio Clai” estates will be accompanied by a 6-course meal. Price including aperitifs and water: € 250. Starting at 7 p.m. in the Ikarus Restaurant. The vintners will be there in person.

VINUM VERTICO 2011 - France

LEGENDARY. TRADITIONAL.

In the worlds of music or sport, the wineries that have been invited to this event would almost certainly be described as megastars. Without needing to resort to superlatives, one could say that Vinum Vertico, which is being held at Ikarus restaurant on 23 August 2011 (7 p.m.), will play host to two of the biggest names on the international wine scene: Domaine Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey from Burgundy and the Bordeaux highlight Château Figeac.

The owners of these wineries, Pierre-Yves Colin and Eric d'Aramon, will be presenting an exclusive selection of wines in person. The seven-course menu, which Roland Trettl has created especially for this occasion, will ensure an equally stunning culinary programme and what will certainly be an unforgettable evening.

Vinum Vertico 2011, August 23, 2011: Two superstars of the French wine scene – “Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey”, Burgundy and “Château Figeac”, Bordeaux. The nine Burgundy slopes in total and the nine “Figeac” vintages from three decades will be accompanied by a 7-course meal. Price including aperitifs and water: € 390. Starting at 7 p.m. in the Ikarus Restaurant. Vintners Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey and “Château Figeac” owner Eric d´Aramon will be there in person.